Composer

:

Robert Schumann

Genre

:

Vocal

Compose Date

:

1851

Average_duration

:

1:18

"Reich mir die Hand, o Wolke" (Reach out to me, o cloud) is a lied composed by Robert Schumann, Op. 104/5. It was composed in 1851 and premiered in the same year. The song is part of a cycle of six songs, collectively known as "Sechs Gedichte und Requiem" (Six Poems and Requiem), which Schumann composed in memory of his friend, the poet Justinus Kerner. The song is in A-flat major and has a moderate tempo. It is divided into three sections, with the first and third sections being in the same key and the middle section modulating to the key of F minor. The piano accompaniment is simple and supportive, with a gentle arpeggio pattern that creates a sense of floating or drifting. The text of the song is a poem by Kerner, which Schumann set to music. The poem is a meditation on the transience of life and the desire for transcendence. The cloud is a symbol of the fleeting nature of existence, but also of the possibility of transcendence and spiritual elevation. The speaker of the poem longs to be lifted up by the cloud and carried away to a higher realm. The song is characterized by its dreamy, ethereal quality, which is created by the gentle piano accompaniment and the soaring vocal melody. The melody is characterized by long, flowing phrases and a sense of yearning and longing. The middle section, which modulates to F minor, creates a sense of tension and darkness, but this is resolved in the final section, which returns to the original key and ends on a note of hope and transcendence. Overall, "Reich mir die Hand, o Wolke" is a beautiful and poignant song that captures the essence of Schumann's Romantic style. It is a testament to his skill as a composer and his ability to create music that is both deeply emotional and intellectually engaging.

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